Weeding apparatus



Dec. 3, 1940.

G. P. SANGER WEEDING APPARATUS Filed Jan. 20, 1959 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Snventor NNN. mNH NNN mhl Dec. 3, A1940. c. P. sANGER WEEDING APPARATUS Filed Jan. 2o, 1939 s sheets-sheet 2' I nventor Gttornegs Gemyej? 5a uw Q AJ www@ w91 Nw.. N.. NSW

Dec. 3, 1940. G. P. sANGER WEEDING APPARATUS Filed Jan. 2o, 1959 I5 Sheets-Sheet 3 WN. mw QN s .www

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@mw www NNN Patented Dec. 3, 1940 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE WEEDIN G APPARATUS George I. Sanger, Rockwood, Mich.

Application January 20, 1939, Serial No.v 251,908 y l onims'.' (o1. scf-s) Y l f This invention relates, in general, to weeding apparatus and, in particular, to improvements in a weeding apparatus adapted especially for marine use.

5 One of the objects of this invention is to provide a new and improved weeding apparatus the propulsion of which is multidirectional and speedily andy selectivel-y altered at the will of the operator andwhich apparatus is operable for ef- IO fectively clearing in safety they weeds from substantially any locality, particularly from bodies of water.

Another object is to provide a new and improved weed cutting apparatus which, in use, is

l5 operable for cutting weeds under its own power and which, when not in use, may readily and easily be made adaptable for legal transportation over the public roads and highways.

K Another object is to provide a new andim-4 provedweed cutting apparatus which is operable for being propelled over the area desired to vbev cleared of vweeds and which is providedwith a cutting mechanism which operates under normal cutting conditions but which ceases to operatev under abnormal cutting conditions so as to avoid the damage thereto that would otherwise occur under said latter conditions. y

Another object is to provide a new and improved weed cutting apparatus which is operable 3U' for being propelled over the area desired to be cleared of weeds and which is provided with ar shock absorbing mechanism which minimizes the shock transmission through the apparatus in the event of a collision between the'cutting mechanismvof the apparatus vand an object of obstruction in the path of travel of the apparatus.

Another object is to provide a new and `improved weed. cutting apparatus which is operable for being propelled over the area desired'to be 104 cleared of weeds-and which is provided with a cutting mechanism supported on a oating axis so that saidl mechanism may be intentionally raised about said axis from said area and/or so that vsaid mechanism and said axis arekautomatically movable together relatively to Seiden-- paratus in a generally rearward direction in the event of a collision between said mechanism and an obstructing object, whereby the operator is given notice of such collision and a short period oi lost motion thereafter during which he may act to avoid the damage which would otherwise result.

Anotherobject is to provide a new and improved weed cutting apparatus which has a re- M ciprocable cutting mechanism supported 0n a shaft which is movable about its own axis as well as about an axis remote therefrom. p'

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become readily apparent from a reference to the following specification taken in conj'unc- :5i tion with the accompanying drawings o f which there are three (3) sheets and wherein:

Figure 1 is a plan View of the assembled weed cutting apparatus and showingthe invention as n being incorporated therein; 16

Fig. 2 is a side elevational view of the showing in Fig. 1;

Figs. 3, 4, 5 and 11 are sectional views, shown partly in elevation, taken along the lines 3 3, 4 4, r5 5 and H l, respectively, in Fig. 2;` 13H5 Figs. 6, 7, 8 and 12 are sectional views taken alo-ng the lines 6 6, 1 1, 8 8 and l2 |2, re-` spectively, in Fig. I;

Fig. 9 is a plan view of the left end portion of l the main cutting unit and its support; and v Fig. 10 is a plan view of one ofthe auxiliary cutting units which is selectively operable for being'j'oined to one of the ends' of the main cut-V ting unit for extending the cutting expanse of' the weeding apparatus. i p

The weed cutter shown in the figures comprises a hull IU which is buoyant in water, which is of any desired length and which has an overall width preferably less than the legal limit for overland vehicles so as to accommodate wheels mi whereby the weeder may be towed or otherwise moved from place to place overv the public roads. For motivating the weeder over water, which willbe presently described, there-is'carried in the K hull I0 on any suitable mounting therefor an 35 ordinary marine engine Il equipped in'the proper manner with the usual friction clutch, shownin dotted lines at l2 in Fig. 1, through which clutch the power from said engine is selectively taken. l k Well above the water line of the'hull I0 on the `40 port and starboard sides of the latter there is iix-` j edly mounted a pair of co-axially aligned bear` ings I3 in each of which there is rotatably carried a stub shaft I4 which protrudes at its inner n end through the side wall of said hull andwhich' 5 extends at its outer end beyond said bearing, said inner end of each of said shafts fixedly carrying a sprocket wheel l5 and said outer end of each of said shafts being radially anged, as at i6, forinterchangeably carrying, by means of bolts il', 5o-

either a paddle'wheel I8 for water travel or a road wheel (not shown) for land travel. The axes of shafts I4 are preferably so disposed that the single vertical plane including both passes through, or at least very close to, the center ofV er;`

gravity of the weeder so that, during land travel over the public roads.

As is usual the driving member (shown merely diagrammatically in the figures) of the clutch I2 is fixed on the engine drive shaft and is Vselectively engaged, by the operation of means to be described, by the driven member of said clutch which is fixedly mounted on a shaft'2 I, the latter xedly carrying a pinion or sprocket wheel 22. y

In driven engagement with the pinion or wheel 2,2 is a drive chain 23 and in driven engagement with said chain is another sprocket wheel 24 which is Xedly mounted on a shaft 25 journalled in bearings 26 anchored to thevloor of hull I9, the axis of shaft 25 being parallel to the axis of shaft 2| and both of said axes being normal to the vertical plane through the longitudinal axis of said hull. On this shaft V25 which is driven by thev engine I I through vthe chain 23 there is Iixedly mounted in spaced relation to and faced I away from each other a 'pair foy bevel gears 21, said gears being fixed on said shaft notonly for the end carrying the bevel gear 28 there is fixedly mounted for pure rotation therewith a friction clutch member 3|. Asv clearly shown' in Fig. 3, then, the driving of shaft 25 in either of its two possible rotative directions causes the driving of theshafts 29 in individually opposite rotative di.- rections. For example, looking from the'right toward Fig. 3, a clockwise movement of shaft 25 causes, if shafts 29 are Viewed from the bottom, a counterclockwise vmovement lof the right hand shaft y29 and a clockwisefmovement of the left hand shaft 29, the clutch members 3| being op` positely driven accordingly.

The hull I0 supports at its port and starboard sides a pair of coaxially aligned bearings 32 in one offwhich bearings is journalled one end of a shaft 33 and in the other of which bearings is journalled one end of another shaft 34,the 'axes ofsaid shafts being in alignment and lying in that common vertical plane Vwhich includes the Vertical axes ofthe shafts 29 and the horizontal axis of the shaft 25, sadendsof shafts 33 and 34 each xedly carrying'for "rotation therewith a: sprocket wheelf 35, and said sprocket wheels each `carrying a drive chain 35 for drivingly connecting said wheels withithe sprocket wheels I the shaft 33 for rotation therewith and limited axial movement therealong, directly above thej respective friction clutch member 3|, is a friction clutch member having opposed bevelled clutch faces 38 and 39 movable together and operable at different times for clutching engagement with said member 3|, and splined to the shaft 34 for rotation therewith and limited axial movement therealong, directly above' the other friction.'v

clutch member 3|, is another friction clutch memberhaving opposed bevelled clutchk faces 43 and 4| movable together and operable at different times for clutching engagement with said latter member 3|. l

` shaft 25 is rotating clockwise if viewed from the It will be seen, therefore, that if the right in Fig. 3, and if the clutching faces 3| and 38 and3I and `4| are in engagement as shown 1n Fig. 3, each of the shafts 33 and 34 will likewise be rotating clockwise and the paddle wheels I8 (or road wheels) each turning in the same direction to propel the weeder inl Figs. 1 and l2 backwardly; a counterclockwise'rotation ofl the shaft 25 would, of course, propel the weeder forwardly, the foregoing otherwise remainingy unchanged. Disengagement of the clutching faces 3| and 38 and 3| and 4I, on the -other hand, and

a straight course `in one lateral direction the clutching faces 3| and 38 and 3| and 40 are in, terengaged, kthe paddle wheels (or road wheels) as a result being driven in opposite directions vto each other, and for turning the weeder offsaidcourse in the opposite lateral direction the clutching faces 3| and 39 and 3| and 4| are inter-,en-` gaged, the paddle wheels (or roadfwheels) asa result being reversibly `driven in opposite 'directions to each other. weeder in either direction may also result from idling one of the two-faced `clutch members and driving the other in the desired direction.v vCom-Y plete idling of the weeder 'may resultby ther simultaneous idling of each of thetwo-facedclutch members. i v

A stationary lever support 42 isshown as being:

xedly mountedy tov the upper end o-f the central Off-course propulsion of the` bearing 3l and is in spaced parallelsim with the l Y shafts 33 and-34, said supporthaving pivoted thereto one end of'each lever of a double pair of levers 43 and 44, the levers of said pair 43 being spaced so as to be substantially parallel when pins -45 formedthereon intermediate their ends are in cooperative driving engagement with an-T nular grooves 46 formed in the two opposite hub portions of the two-faced Yclutch member 38-39, and the levers of said pair 44 being spaced so as to be substantially parallel when pins 4,'I'formed thereon intermediate their ends are in cooperative drivingengagement with lannular grooves 48;

formed in the two opposite hub portions of the two-faced clutch member `4Il-4I. Av rigidzlink 49 o-fv a pair thereof is pivotallysecured at its ends to the free ends of the levers of 'each of the pairs 43 and 44, and said'links are resiliently conL nected together at their adjacent endsby a spring 5|) which normally keeps said leversVr in the re` spective positions shown most clearly in Fig. -1

which, as a result, normally keeps the clutch members 3|-38-39 and 3I---lIll--4Iv in the re, spective positions shown most clearly in Fig'',V

which means that said links and said spring tend normally to position said clutches whereby the paddle or road Wheels are each driven in the same direction. Whereas the spring' 50 is connected at its ends tothe adjacent ends of the links 49, the remote ends of said links have connected thereto the opposite ends of a cord or cable 5| which spans a major portion of the plan area of the hull I0 and is tautly supported alongv its length by a system of guide pulleys 52 mounted 0n the sides and floor of said hull. On the floor of hull I U near the bow thereof whereat the major portion of the operation of the weeder is to be preferably controlled a bracket 53 is anchored, said bracket supporting, by a ball and socket connection 54, a manually shiftable lever 55 the lower end of which is xed' to a portion of the cord or cable 5| thereadjacent, the ball and socket connection 54 between the bracket 53 and lever 55 being suiciently tight or provided with various stops (not shown) so that any selected relative position between said bracket and said lever may be maintained as long as desired without unintentional change thereof. It is clear, then, that the operator, when facing the bow of the hull |51 and pulling all the way back on the lever 55,`causes the clutch faces 38 and 4| to become disengaged from the clutch members 3|, against the force of the spring 50, and brings the clutch faces 39 and 4!) into engagement with said clutch members to reverse the direction of propulsion of the weeder. it being obvious from the foregoing that a semi pull on said lever will break any clutching between said faces and said members to cause coasting of the weeder; a. pull on said lever toward the starboard side of said hull will not disturb the relationship shown in Fig. 1 between the clutch member 3| and the clutch faces 38 and 39. because the spring 59 normally keeps said member and said faces in such relative positions, but such a pull will disengage the clutch member 3| and the clutch face 4| and bring into engagement the clutch member 3| and the clutch face 4l) for causing the paddle or road wheels to rotate in opposite directions to drivey the weeder in one direction angularly from `a straight course; a pull on said lever toward the port side of said hullwill effectuate, in a manner which should now be clear, a deviation from said straight course in the4 opposite angular direction; and, semi port or starboard pulls on said lever will effectuate an idling of one paddle or road wheel without disturbing the movement of the other. I

Also anchored near the bow of the hull l0, for remotely controlling the engagement or disensagement of the friction clutch I2, is a bracket 56 which has pivotally connected thereto abou-t a horizontal axis Ia manually operable lever 51 to the lower end of which is fastenedv one end of a cord or cable 58, theother end of saidy cord or cable being fastened to one end of a. horizontally arranged bell crank 59, said bell crank being pivoted about a vertical axis intermediate its ends to the engine housing and its free end being in axially driving engagement with the hub portion of the driven clutch member of the clutch I2. Since it is preferable to use a cord or cable, such as 58, as a connecting means between the lever 57 and bell crank 59, it is then essential that the driven member of the clutch I2 be provided with a spring 60 which normally keeps said member in one of its extreme axial positions and opposes movement toward the other of its extreme axial positions, a rearward pull on said leverr counteracting the opposition of `said spring, a stop (noty shown) on the bracket 56 holding said lever in its new position, and said spring returning said clutch member, when desired, to its normal position; however, said cord or cable could be replacedby a rod (not shown), in which event the spring 6|) could be eliminated but the lever 5l would then have to be moved manually in either direction to change the position of the clutch member from one to the other of its positions.

In forwardly spaced relation to the shaft 25 and in parallelism therewith there is rotatably supported a shaft 6| in coaxially aligned bearings 62 anchored to the floor of hull l0, and on shaft 6| there is freely mounted a friction clutch member 63 having formed on its hub portion a sprocket 54. (See Figs. 1 and 4.) Splined to the shaft 6| for rotatably driving same and for axial movement therealong toward and from the freely rotatable clutch member 63 is a clutch member 65 operable for selectively'eng'aging and disengaging the clutch member 63. ,Clutch member 65 is annularly grooved at 66 on its periphery for receiving the forked end of a manually operable lever 61 which is supported intermediate its ends for proper movement `thereof by a bracket 68 anchored to the floor of the hull I0 in the vicinity of the brackets 53 and 56. It will be seen that the operator needs only to move the lever 6l by its handle relatively to the bracket 68 laterally l toward the port or starboard sides of the hull to obtain the desired engagement between or disengagement of the clutch members 63 and 65 to drive or idle the shaft 6|, clutch member 63 being backed up by a stop or other means on said shaft to oppose the axial thrust of the clutch member 65 during engagement therebetween.

The clutch member 63 is freely driven on the shaft 6| by and in accordance with the rotation of the shaft 25 by means of a sprocket wheel 69 xedly mounted on shaft 25 for rotation therewith through the agency of an endless chain 19 geared about the sprocket wheel 69 and the sprocket 64 formed on said clutch member 63, shaft 25, as has been described, being driven by the engine and itself, in addition to driving the member 63, driving the shafts 33 and 34.

Mounted onthe shaft 6| in spaced relation to the end of the driven clutch member 65 opposite its clutching end is an axially adjustable stop member "il, and spaced from said stop member in splined engagement with said shaft is an annular member 'lf2 provided with a friction plate 13, there being a spring 14 telescopically arranged about said shaft between said stop member and said annular member for urging the latter axially away from said stop member along its splined connection with said shaft. Adjacent the friction plate 13 carried on the annular member 12 there is freely mounted on shaft 6| a sprocket wheel 15 which has a clutching face cooperable with said plate so as to be frictionally driven thereby. lSprocket wheel l5 is backed up on shaft 6| by an adjustable stop member 'I6 Vwhich opposes the force of the spring 14 and permits a driving contact between the faced member 12 and the sprocket wheel 'l5 to be driven thereby, said contact being sufficiently effective `to drive said sprocket wheel under conditions of normal pull thereon (to be described) and yet being preferably insuicient, by proper adjustment of the stop or stops, to drive or continue to drive said sprocket wheelunder conditions of abnormal pull thereon (to be described).

The port and starboard walls of the hull l!! arev veach arcuately slotted, as at Tl, above and about the Iaxis ofthe Shaft 3|, and through said slots extend the-ends of a swingable and rotatable shaft 18, the' axes of shafts 6| and 18 being parallel. Shaft 18 is supported intermediate the walls of slots 11 by means of lever arms 19 which -are each freely carried at one end by the shaft 8| and each of which at the other end freely carries the shaft 18 for rotation about its own axis and about the axis of shaft 6| along and relativelyl to said slots. Due to the weight of the mechanism (to be described) carried by the shaft 18 ahead of the vertical plane through the axis of the shaft 6|, shaft 18 is normally supported by the lever arms 19 at or very close to the head end of each of the slots 11. For rotatably driving the shaft 18 about its own axis said shaft has flxedly mounted thereon for said rotation therewith a sprocket wheel 80, and an endless chain 8| is connected between said sprocket wheel and the sprocket wheel 15 which is carried by the shaft El and frictionally driven by the annular member 12. The rotatable driving of shaft 18 about its own axis is, therefore, dependent upon the load thereon, the desirability of providing for slippage between the member 12 and sprocket wheel 15 under abnormal pull on said sprocket (by the shaft .18) having been previously explained.

Spaced betweenv and in parallelism with the shafts 25 and 9| is another shaft 82 journalled for rotation in spaced bearings 83 anchored to the oor of hull I0. Shaft 82 has splined ythereto for being rotatably driven thereby a sprocket wheel 84, and an endless driving chain 85 is connected between said sprocket wheel and another sprocket wheel 86 which is fixedly mounted `on shaft 25 for rotation therewith. Shaft 82 is, therefore, rotated by and in accordance with the shaft 25.

Also mounted for rotation on the shaft 92 in splined engagement therewith is a friction clutch member 81 the periphery of the hub of which is annularly grooved as at 88 to receive the forked end of a bell crank 89 which is vertically pivoted intermediate its ends to a portion of the bearing 83 thereadjacent. The free end of the bell crank 89 has pivotally fixed thereto one end of a stiff link 90, the other end of said link being pivotally connected to and intermediate the ends of a manually operable lever 9| which` is mounted on a bracket 92 for a plurality of variable positions with respect thereto, said bra-cket being anchored to the floor of hull |0 in the vicinity of the brackets 53, 5'6 and B8. It will be seen, then, that the lever 9|, when pushed forwardly, forces the clutch member along its splined connection on the shaft 82 toward the port side of the hull |0, and, when pulled rearwardly, forces said member toward the starboard side of said hull.

Freely mounted on the Ashaft 82 between the sprocket wheel 84 and the clutch member 81 which are splined to for rotation on said shaft is another clutch member 93 which is operable for being selectively engaged by the clutch member 81 to be driven thereby. Member 93 on its periphery carries a spring brake band 94 of usual construction and the ends of which band are interconnected through a centrally pivoted link 95, link 95 being movable about its pivot to draw together or separate the ends of said link for tightening or loosening said band on or from member 93 by means of a rod 95 one end of which rod is pivotally connected to an offset portion of said link and the other end of which rod is pivotally connected to a manually operable'lever 91, said lever being pivotally mounted on a bracket 98 anchored to the floor of hull I0 in the vicinity ofthe other brackets 53, 56,58

and 92. It willr be seen in Fig. 2 that movement of the lever 91 forwardly about its pivot causes the link 95 :to move clockwise about its own'pivot to loosen the brake band 91|.'I about the clutch member 93, and that-rearward movement fof said lever causes counterclockwiseimovement of said link to tighten said band on said member. In other words, the braking of clutch member 93, since said member is freeon the shaft 82, isv effective in holding said member against undesired rotation of said member `about the axis of said shaft when'sai'd member and the other clutch member. 81 are out of engagement. n l

The clutch member 93 which is' selectively driven by thev clutch member 81 andvwhich is selectively stopped or kept from moving by the brake band 94 has one end of a'cable 99 secured to its periphery and carries thereon'a plurality of windings of said cable, the other end of said cable' passing under a shear/'e100 anchored to. the floor of hull l0 and then upwardly to`be wound around and secured to a drumV |0| mounted for rotation on and with' a4 shaft |02 which is supported for rotation by the port an'dstarboard side walls of said hull.' Although the main object of this arrangement is'soon to be discussed, it will be noted in Fig. 1 that'the cable 99 intermediate its ends may be provided with a removable connection |`03 so that, upon beingdisconnected thereat, that portion of the cable' which is wund around the clutch member 93 may be pulled outwardly through thebow of the hull |0 and secured to a fixed object (no-t'shown), such as a stake to which 'the weeder is to be tied, o r such as a truck upon which the Aweeder is to be transported overland.` When so `secured to saidV fixed object, it being presumed that thepaddle wheels I8 have been removed'fromv their mountings and that the'w'eed cutting"sectionV of` the weeder has been raised', it will be seen that the weeder may be drawn toward said object'under its own power by" engaging the clutch'members 81 and-93 and causingforward movement'of the weeder by the re-winding ofthe cable 99 on the member93. f The floating shaft '18"which is'carried inthe arcuate slots 11 by the arms 19 for rotation about its own 'axis as Well as for rotation' about the axis of its driving shaft' 6|'freely carries thereon outwardly of each Yside of the'hull |0 a bracket' |04, and to each'of these brackets is x'ed onev end of an angle support |05, supports |85 extending forwardly from the shaft 18 in parallelism and terminating at a' distance'substantially ahead of the bow of hull I0. The outer end of each of the supports |05 is provided with an'upstanding boss formation |05 and an upstand'ing flangel01, formations lbeing equally spaced from the axis of lshaft18 and flanges |01 being equally spaced ahead ofsaid formations'. On each support |05 atan equal distance `behind the boss formation |86 thereon there is xed'an angle piece' |08, andA on each angle'piece is carried a vertically boredy lug |09 in eachA of which lugs is4 reciprocably mounted a rod' ||0. The lower endof each rod ||0 carries a nut and' washer unit and the upper end of each of said` rods has an eyeformation 2 to each of which eye 'formations is fastened one end of a cable ||3, each of said cables ||3 extending upwardly from its respective rod ||0 and being wound around and secured to a drum ||4 xedly vmounted on the end of shaft |02 for rotation therewith'. rIfelesc'opically arrangedon each rod between its respective lug |09 and nut and washer unit is a spring ||5.y Since the angle supports are connected intermediate their ends through the cables ||3 to the shaft |02, unitary movement of said lsupports upwardly about the axis of the shaft 18 is effectuated by the engagement between vthe clutch members 81 and 93, the ybraking action between the clutch member 93 and the brake band 94 being selectively operable for holding the supports |05 in any desired position of inclination relativel to the horizontal, and the unitary downward movement of the supports |05 about the yaxis of the shaft 18 being effectuated by :their own weight together with the release, to any desired extent, of the brake band 94 from the clutch member 93. The springs ||5 tend to absorb the shock which would otherwise be transmitted through the cables ||3 and 99 by an unexpected downward force applied at the outer ends of the supports |05.

AXially outwardly of each bracket |04 shaft 18ixedly carries a disc ||6 for rotation therewith, each of said discs having pivotally mounted thereon eccentrically to the axis thereof an arm ||1, arms ||1 extending forwardly in parallelism with each other and being disposed slightly above and laterally of the angle supports |05 which are freely carried on said shaft by said brackets. Each arm ||1 has mounted thereon for the reciprooatory movement therewith due to the eccentricity of the connection between said arm and the rotatable disc ||6 a double edged knife ||8 extending for substantially the entire length of said arm, said knives and the upstanding portions of the supports |05 cooperating to provide shearing means for those weeds or that debris which would otherwise work into the hull |0 and foul the mechanism therein. The'end of each arm ||1 opposite the end thereof which is pivotally mounted on the disc ||6 is connected for universal movement to one end of a bell crank I9, said bell cranks being pivotally anchored intermediate their ends to the boss formationsy |06 formed on the supports |05. The knife-carrying arms I|1, therefore, are driven upwardly and downwardly and forwardly and backwardly by their driving discs ||6 to which they are eccentrically mounted, and this complex movement not only is guided by the bell cranks ||9 but drives said cranks oscillatably .about their pivoted mountings.

Referring particularly'to Fig. 8, it will be seen that one ofthe lateral elements of an elongated T-bar |20 is arranged on and rigidly secured to the-forward faces of the upstanding flanges |01 on the supports |05, the length of said T-bar being substantially equal to the distancebetween the outer edges of said flanges when said supports are parallel, and on the upper surface of the central element of said T-bar is arranged and rigidly secured thereto a flat, elongated cutter bar |2| of saw tooth formation and of a length substantially equal to that of said T-bar, said cutter-bar extending forwardly outwardly from said T-bar and representing the stationary cutting element of the weed cutting mechanism since same is rigidly supported bythe supports |05. If

. it is desired to increase the lateral expanse of the cutting' mechanism over that provided by the above and `still retain the feature of legal land transportability of the weeder, to the other lateral element of each T-bar` |20, below each flange |01, is removably secured by bolts or other suitable means |22 an angle bar |23, said angle bars extending laterally outwardly from said T-bar for any desired distance .and each having rigidly secured to its yupper surface a fiat cutter bar |24 (see Fig. 7) of saw tooth formation, cutter bars |24 being of sucha width and being arranged on said anglebars |23 in such a manner that they lie end to end with the cutter bar |2| yand the cutting edges thereof are in alignment with the cutting edge of the cutter bar `|2| to provide a substantially continuous stationary cutting edge across the entire laterally extended cutting mechanism. It is clear that the weeder may be employed with or without the cutter bars |24 and their supporting angle bars |23 and that these auxiliary units are easily and readily assembled to and `disassembled from the weeder.

Again referring to Fig.' 8, the free end of each bell crank ||9 is slotted, as at |25, to receive a pin |26 which is iixedly'mounted in an elongated bar |21, said bars being longitudinally aligned and the total length of said two bars being less than the length of the stationary cutter bar |2| so as to be movable toward and from each other relatively to said cutter bar withoutI eX- tending, beyond the ends of the latter. To the bottom of each bar |21, along its length, there is welded or otherwise fixedly secured a cutter bar |28 of saw tooth formation, bars |28 being in metal-to-metal contact with the cutter bar |2| and being reciprocably driven with bars |21 by the cranks ||9 for cooperating with the stationary bar |2| to provide an effective cutting means for weeds .and other such matter coming in contact therewith.v To guide the cutter bars |28 in their reciprocating movements a plurality of channelled guide members |29 are provided between the T-bar |20 and the rear edges of the bars |21 and |28, said members being secured at sp-aced intervals to the bars |2| and 20 andarranged in overlapping engagement with the bars |21. It will be noticed in Fig. 1 that the arms I |1 which drive the bell cranks |9 have the same angle of eccentricity with respect tothe axes of the discs H6 mounted for rotation on and with the shaft 18, .and that the bell cranks ||9 are arranged in opposition to each other, the result being that rotation ofthe shaft 18 causes ,the reciprocable cutter bars |28 to move along the cutter bar |2| either simultaneously toward each other or simultaneously away from each other, this .arrangement necessitating the employment, a's disclosed, of the two spaced cutter bars |28. It is clear, however, that a single reciprocable cutter bar could replace the two bars shown by merely doing `away with the opposed relationship of the bell cranks and maintaining the disclosed eccentricities of the arms, or by maintaining the disclosed opposition between the cranks and angularly spacing the eccentricities 180. The invention contemplates the arrangement shown and the other arrangements suggested immediately above or their equivalents.

If it is desired to increase the lateral expanse of the cutting mechanism of the weeder, as has already been suggested in the consideration of the bar supports |23 and cutter bars |24, the reciprocable bars |21 which carry the cutter bars |28 are either upwardly flanged laterally outwardly from the'pins |26 or are provided thereat with upstanding lugs |30, and to these lugs or flanges are bolted or otherwise removably secured upstanding portions |3| of bars |32, each bar |32 being longitudinally aligned with the bar 21 to which it is secured. Each bar |32 has riveted vor otherwise rigidly secured thereto, at its .under surface, a cutter bar y |33 of a length subjacent, it cooperatively reciprocates. Channelled guide members |34, similar to the guide member-s |29, are rigidly secured at spaced intervals to the stationary cutter vbars |24 and are arranged in overlapping engagement with the bars |32.

Power is taken from the engine driven shaft 25 to the clutch member 63 on the shaft 6| through the vchain 10, said shaft 6| being selectively Adriven by proper manipulation of the lever 61 to engage the clutch members 63 and 65 on said` shaft 6|.` The rotative power of shaft 8| is transmitted substantially positively to the shaft 18 through the vchain 8 I, though the limit of positiveness is dependent upon the opposition in shaft 78 to the friction between the members '|2 andl vonv said shaft 6|. If the opposition to such. friction is not above normal, the shaft 18 will be driven by the shaft 6| and will, in turn, Vdrive the eccentrically mounted arms Il to actu- -ate the cutter bars |28 and |33 reciprocably along the stationary cutter bars |2| and |24; but, if vthe opposition to such friction is above normal, such as when the relatively movable cutter bars vmeet with' abnormal cutting resistance,then the driven member "I5 onshaft 6| will slipwith respect to the drivingy member '|2 thereon and rotation of shaft 18 and reciprocation of cutter bars |28 and |33 will cea'se.

At the same time the member 63 on shaft 6| is Vdriven by the shaft 25, the shaft 82 is positively driven vb-y the shaft 25 through the chain 85 because of the direct connections between said chain and the sprocket wheel 84 on said shaft 82 and between said latter shaft and said sprocket wheel. This rotative power of shaft 82 is selectively transmitted therefrom in desired yamount to the shaft |02 `by the proper manipulation of the lever 9| to yengage the members 81 and 93 on said shaft 82, and the release of sai-d members at the same ltime the lever 91 is properly manipulated to tighten the brake band 94 about the member 93, when the shaft |02 has been rotated through the desired arc, will maintain the shaft |02 in its desired position. In other words, the entire cut-ting mechanism of the weeder may thus be raised relatively to the weeder proper about the axis of the shaft 18.

It is also important to note again that the selectively rotatable vshaft 18 is carried in the arcuate slots formedv in the hull l0 and that movement of said shaft about the axis of the shaft 6| is possible becauseof the arms 19 which interconnect said shafts. This means that the cutting mechanism of the weeder, upon hitting some unseen obstruction in the path of travel, will back up relatively tothe weeder proper, and this movement will be the danger signal to the operator to act accordingly as well as giving him time to so act. The occurrence and duration of this lost 'j motion'of the cutting mechanism will enable the operator, before serious damage results, either to sion of the shock absorbing means shown in detail in Eig. 11 and in assembly in Fig. 1-.

Before and after thev weeding process, vland transportation of the weeder, either by the towing or actual carrying thereof, V-is. legally possible. During weeding, the ease in maneuvering the weeder and the speed with which the various operations of which the weeder is capable'of performing may be stopped, started ork changed are features which permit the weeder to be safely and effectively employed in substantially any locality where weeding is desired. After the weeding is completed, it is possible for the weeder to move under its own power onto or up to the vehicle which is to take it away or onto the beach or bank for temporary stationing thereat. f

The description of the driving arrangement for the paddle wheels is detailed and is` necessarily directed to the arrangement shown', but it is contemplated that any well-known arrangement which is capable of producing similar results may be substituted. Also, the power for raising and reciprocating the cutting mechanism is shown and has been described as being taken off the shaft 25 which shaft also furnishes the power for the paddle wheels, but it is contemplated that said raising and reciprocating power may be supplied by means other than and independent of the means shown.

It is also clear that the weeder maybe made adaptable for propulsion under its ownv power overland and for weeding on land by the substitution of road wheels for the paddle wheels and the provision in any well known manner of wheels at or near the bow of the hull, and the ,12'

invention contemplates such substitution and provision. y y

Although the invention has been described with some detail it is to be understood that such description is for the purpose of illustration only and is notI to be taken as definitive of the limits of the inventive idea. The right is reserved to make such changes in the details of construction and. arrangement of parts as will fall within the purview of the attached claims.

What I claim is: .A 1. In a weeding apparatus, a cutting mechanism comprising, a pair of elongated cutting elements arranged one above the other and in close proximity to each other, means for longitudinally reciprocating said elements relatively to each other, said elements having saw-toothed cutting edges cooperable to provide a` shearing action therebetween, and auxiliary cutting elements readily assembled on and removable from said` first cutting elements for movement in accordance therewith and to vary at will the longitudinal expanse of said cutting mechanism.\

2. An apparatus comprising, a body movable over an area to be weeded, a cutter carried by said body in a normally lowered position with respect to said area and about an axis normal to the direction of movement thereof, means operatively connected Ato said cutter for selectively moving the latter into and from said position'about said axis, means operatively interconnecting said cutter and said body to accommodatea movement of said cutter downwardly Vbeyond said position relatively to saidv first means during movement of the latter, and means between said cutter and said rstmeans to accommodate a lost motion therebetween. v l

3.'An apparatus comprising, a body movable over an area to be weeded,-a cutter carried by said body about an' axis `normalto the directionLof Itl() movement thereof, means operatively connected to said cutter for selectively moving the latter toward and from the area about said axis, means operatively interconnecting said cutter and said body to accommodate a lost motion therebetween during movement of the latter, andI resilient means between said cutter and the connection thereof with said first means to accommodate a lost motion therebetween.

4. In a weeding apparatus, a cutting mechanism comprising, cutting means supportable in weeding position over the area toA be weeded thereby, a pair of shafts supported for rotation about spaced, parallel axes, one of said shafts carrying for rotation therewith driving means therefor and driving means operatively connected i to said cutting means for reciprocating the latter arcuate movement of one thereof about the axis of the other thereof, and means operatively interconnecting said rst driving means and said driven clutch section for permitting the latter to drive the former upon inter-engagement of said clutch sections and during said arcuate movement of said one shaft relativelytosaid other shaft.

5. In a weeding apparatus, a cutting mechanism comprising, cutting means supportable in weeding position over the area to be Weeded thereby, a pair of shafts supported for rotation about spaced, parallel axes, one of said shafts carrying for rotation therewith driving means therefor and driving means operatively connected to said cutting means for reciprocating the latter relatively to said area, the other of said shafts Carrying for rotation therewith driving means therefor and the driving section of a friction clutch, the driven section of said clutch being selectively engageable with said driving section and freely carried on said last mentioned shaft, means freely received by said shafts and rigidly interconnecting same for maintaining said axial spacing andv permitting arcuate movement of one thereof about the axis of the other thereof, and means operatively interconnecting said rst driving means and said driven clutch section for permitting the latter to drive the former upon interengagement of said clutch sections and during said arcuate movement of said one shaft relatively to said other shaft.

GEORGE P. SANGER. 

